Worm Farm

Using Your Organic Life Amendments Worm Farm

Choose a breathable container such as:

• A 10–18 gallon plastic tote, or
• A 5-gallon bucket

Drill air holes around the top 6 inches of the bin or in the lid to allow airflow. If possible, elevate the bin slightly to allow excess moisture to escape. Place your bin indoors or in a shaded, temperature-stable area.

Your Worm Farm from Organic Life Amendments includes a small amount of living, inoculated bedding to jumpstart microbial activity. You will need to prepare additional bedding before adding your worms.

Recommended bedding materials:

• Shredded cardboard
• Shredded paper or newsprint
• Dried leaves (optional)

How to prepare bedding:

1. Shred bedding materials into strips or small pieces
2. Soak in water for 12–24 hours to fully saturate
3. Wring out excess water until the bedding feels like a damp sponge—moist but not dripping

Add prepared bedding to your bin to create a 6–8 inch layer.

Gently place the entire contents of your Organic Life Amendments Worm Farm—worms, cocoons, juveniles, and inoculated bedding—on top of the prepared bedding.

Lightly mix only the top layer to distribute microbes while avoiding excessive disturbance. This inoculates your bedding and helps worms acclimate quickly. 

Leave the bin uncovered and place it under a bright light overnight. Worms naturally avoid light and will burrow down into the bedding, reducing the chance of escape during the first 24 hours.

Do not feed yet. The inoculated bedding and prepared materials provide enough nutrition during this settling period.

After about one week, begin feeding slowly.

Start with:

• Small amounts of soft food (banana peel, melon rind, apple core)

Bury food just under the surface and cover it with bedding.

If food is still present after several days, wait before adding more. Overfeeding is the most common beginner mistake.

Temperature

• Ideal range: 60–80°F
• Keep bins indoors or shaded outdoors

Moisture

• Maintain bedding moisture at 60–70%
• Bedding should feel like a damp sponge
• If too wet, add dry shredded bedding

Airflow

• Ensure air holes remain open
• Gently fluff bedding if it becomes compacted

As food breaks down, continue adding carbon-rich bedding such as shredded cardboard, paper, or leaves. Bedding helps control moisture, improves airflow, and prevents odors.

When in doubt—add more bedding.

Feed every 3–5 days, depending on how quickly food disappears.

Worms typically consume 100–200% of their body weight per week, not per day. Skipping a feeding is far safer than overfeeding.